Open mike 15/10/09
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- Date published:
6:00 am, October 15th, 2009 - 28 comments
Categories: open mike -
Tags: play nice
We’re trying a daily “Open mike”.
This is a place for anyone to post comments on topics that might be of interest, and for any discussion following up on the comments. Over to you…
28 comments on “Open mike 15/10/09 ”
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- Strengthened reporting will improve abortion and sterilisation servicesAssociate Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall has announced new data and reporting regulations which will help improve abortion and sterilisation services in New Zealand, by painting a clearer picture of the need in our communities. “The Government is committed to ensuring everyone who needs to access abortion services can, ...3 days ago
- United Nations General Assembly: 76th General Debate StatementE ngā Mana, e ngā Reo, Rau Rangatira mā o tēnei Whare Nui o te Ao Prestigious people, Speakers of note, Chiefs one and all of this General Assembly Ngā mihi mahana ki o koutou katoa, mai i toku Whenua o Aotearoa Warm greetings to you all from my home ...3 days ago
- APEC 2021 Women and the Economy Forum prioritises women’s economic empowermentMinister for Women Jan Tinetti today chaired the virtual APEC 2021 Women and the Economy Forum, which is working to address outstanding issues for women and girls across the region as it recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. The forum brought together Ministers and representatives from 21 economies to discuss gender ...3 days ago
- Government invests in restoring iconic South Canterbury river valleysThe Government is investing up to $18.4 million over four years to create jobs and help restore braided river valleys, alpine and pastoral lands in the South Island as part of its Jobs for Nature programme Land Information Minister, Damien O’Connor announced. Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) ...4 days ago
- Upper Hauraki to move to Alert Level 2Upper Hauraki will move to Alert Level 2 from 11:59pm tomorrow, 25 September, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed today. After positive cases were detected in the Upper Hauraki area on Sunday, extra Alert Level restrictions were put in place to immediately prevent any wider transmission of the virus. “We’ve ...4 days ago
- Report into Aotearoa New Zealand’s export controls system releasedForeign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta today welcomed the findings of an independent review into Aotearoa New Zealand’s export controls system, which regulates the export of goods to foreign militaries, police forces or paramilitaries. Produced by David Smol, a former Chief Executive of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, the ...4 days ago
- New District Court Judge appointedAttorney-General David Parker has announced the appointment of Brett Crowley of Wellington as a District Court Judge. He is currently the Wellington Public Defender and started his career as a staff solicitor working in a range of litigation including criminal defence work. He went to the bar in 1999 specialising ...4 days ago
- Mental health stocktake shows strong progressThe first report of the Government’s Implementation Unit has found strong progress has been made since the Mental Health and Addictions Package was announced in 2019. “The report notes most initiatives funded in the Budget 2019 package are on track to deliver what is expected by 2023/24,” Grant Robertson said. ...4 days ago
- Working together to grow the West CoastA project that has been crucial in allowing businesses to continue during the tourism downturn is among a number of initiatives to receive a boost from the Government’s Jobs For Nature programme, Conservation Minister Kiri Allan says. Sustaining South Westland is an extension of an initiative set up last year ...4 days ago
- Next steps to improve safety in wake of Whakaari White Island tragedyThe Government is moving to improve safety in light of the Whakaari White Island tragedy and has released proposals to reinforce safety standards in registered adventure activities. The package of proposals includes: Strengthening requirements for how operators, landowners and the regulator manage natural hazard risks Improving how risks are monitored, ...4 days ago
- New Zealand donates more COVID-19 vaccines to COVAX and the PacificForeign Affairs Minister Hon Nanaia Mahuta and Associate Health Minister Aupito William Sio announced today that New Zealand is donating additional Pfizer vaccines to the Pacific and AstraZeneca vaccines to the COVAX Facility, to support equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. “New Zealand is donating 708,000 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine ...4 days ago
- Speech to the Property Council of New ZealandKia ora koutou katoa Is it a pleasure to be able to speak with you today, and to be able to answer some questions you may have. I would like to acknowledge the organisers of this event, the Property Council. The theme of this year’s conference is City Shapers. Together ...5 days ago
- Additional MIQ for ChristchurchAn additional hotel will be added to our network of managed isolation and quarantine facilities, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said today. “I have approved and Cabinet is in the final stages of signing off The Quality Hotel Elms in Christchurch as a new managed isolation facility,” Chris Hipkins said. ...5 days ago
- NZ COVID-19 response earns another major digital investmentMinister for the Digital Economy and Communications Dr David Clark welcomes Amazon’s Web Services’ (AWS) decision to establish a Cloud Region on New Zealand shores, further boosting New Zealand’s growing digital sector, and providing a vote of confidence in the direction of New Zealand’s economic recovery. “Amazon is the second ...5 days ago
- New Zealand invests in cutting edge cancer R&DScaling up the manufacture of CAR T-cell cancer therapy for clinical trials Advancing New Zealand’s biomedical manufacturing capability Supporting future international scientific collaborations Transforming cancer care with targeted, affordable solutions Research, Science and Innovation Minister Hon Dr Megan Woods has announced that the fight against COVID-19 will not stop the ...5 days ago
- Expert group appointed to lead New Zealand’s future health systemAn outstanding group of people with extensive and wide-ranging governance and health experience have been appointed to lead the Māori Health Authority and Health New Zealand, Health Minister Andrew Little says. “This Government is building a truly national health system to provide consistent, high-quality health services right across the country. This ...5 days ago
- Funding to help clean up contaminated sitesThe Government is supporting the clean-up of contaminated sites in Northland, Dunedin and Southland to reduce risk to people’s health and protect the environment. Environment Minister David Parker said the funding announced today, through the Contaminated Sites Remediation Fund, will help us turn previously hazardous sites into safe, usable public ...5 days ago
- Predator Free apprenticeships open up new job opportunitiesThe expansion of a predator free apprenticeship programme is an opportunity for more people to kick-start a conservation career, Conservation Minister Kiri Allan says. “The Predator Free Apprenticeship Programme is focused on increasing the number of skilled predator control operators in New Zealand through a two-year training programme. “The Trust ...6 days ago
- Further NCEA support confirmed for Auckland studentsThe number of Learning Recognition Credits for senior secondary school students will be increased for Auckland students, Education Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed today. This recognises the extended time these students will spend in Alert Levels 3 and 4. “It means students in Auckland will have a fair opportunity to attain ...6 days ago
- Long-term pathway next step to better mental wellbeing for New ZealandersThe Government is taking a new approach to support people who experience mental distress, Health Minister Andrew Little says. “Kia Manawanui Aotearoa – Long-term pathway to mental wellbeing (Kia Manawanui) is the first 10-year plan of its kind that targets the cause of mental distress and also sets out how ...6 days ago
- Keeping our Police safe to keep our communities safeThe Government is committed to keeping our frontline police officers safe, so they in turn can keep New Zealanders safe – with one of the largest investments in frontline safety announced by Police Minister Poto Williams at the Police College today. The $45 million investment includes $15.496 million in ...6 days ago
- Clean Vehicles Bill passes first checkpointThe Land Transport (Clean Vehicles) Amendment Bill will help New Zealand drive down transport emissions by cleaning up the light vehicle fleet, Transport Minister Michael Wood says. The Bill passed its first reading today and will establish the legislative framework for key parts of the Government’s Clean Car Package, including ...7 days ago
- Funding boost supports ongoing Māori COVID-19 responseThe Government is responding to the need by whānau Māori and Māori Health providers to support their ongoing work responding to COVID-19 and to continue increasing rates of Māori vaccination, Associate Minister for Health (Māori Health), Peeni Henare and Minister for Māori Development Willie Jackson announced today. This increased ...7 days ago
- Significant increase to COVID-19 penaltiesPenalties for breaches of COVID-19 orders are set to significantly increase from early November 2021 to better reflect the seriousness of any behaviour that threatens New Zealand’s response to the virus, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said today. “Throughout this Delta outbreak we’ve seen the overwhelming majority of people doing ...1 week ago
- Why New Zealanders are vulnerable to genetic discrimination in health and life insurance
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jane Tiller, Ethical, Legal & Social Adviser – Public Health Genomics, Monash University Shutterstock/gopixa Genetic testing is increasingly used as part of routine healthcare to determine a patient’s risk for some conditions, including certain cancers. But insurers can use ...55 mins ago - Bill amended to include need for warrant to enter a marae
Officials will no longer have the power to enter marae without a warrant under the government's Water Services Bill. ...1 hour ago - Shortland Street is in a race against time
After being shut down for five weeks, Shortland Street is playing a massive game of catch-up. Can the show stay on air? It got close – real close. “There’s usually an eight or nine-week buffer,” says Michael Galvin, the Shortland Street stalwart who has played Dr Chris Warner since day dot. ...1 hour ago - Govt unveils its guide to housing policies and investment – but check out who gets partnerships an...
Border controls have been eased in two government announcements over the past day or so. Megan Woods, meanwhile, has been busy issuing statements variously as minister of Housing, of Research, Science and Innovation, and of Energy and Resources. As Housing Minister she drew attention to the Government Policy Statement on ...1 hour ago - Hear From Us, Not About Us: “There Are No Excuses To Not Listen To Us Now “
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- Auckland’s Cook Islands vaccination event, reviewedVaccination events for Pasifika were held across Auckland last weekend. Tina Tiller shares her experience.Kia orana tatou katoatoa. Tūrou….Tūrou ko au teia ko Tina Tiller E arara aka’meitaki ki te Kuki Airani Covid vaccination teamTo tell you the truth, I got my jabs because my mum booked me in. Bless ...4 hours ago
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- Child Poverty Action Group Welcomes Moves To Cover Birth Injuries Under ACCThe Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) welcomes the announcement by ACC Minister Carmel Sepuloni that some birth injuries to the mother will be covered under ACC scheme. CPAG says this announcement is an important first step towards wider reform ...5 hours ago
- Online Handover: Killer Robots Petition To ParliamentDue to lockdown restrictions, the event to hand over the Aotearoa New Zealand Campaign to Stop Killer Robots' petition to parliament to the Minister for Disarmament and Arms Control, Phil Twyford, on Wednesday 29 September will be held online from 1pm ...5 hours ago
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- Lower the drawbridge – the PM is planning to bust out of the NZ bubble to talk trade (among other ...
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- Keith Rankin Analysis – Vaccination Rates and the Population DenominatorAnalysis by Keith Rankin. Keith Rankin. We are learning that, in the absence of high levels of natural immunity to Covid19, New Zealand will need extremely high vaccination rates before it can repudiate its growing ‘hermit kingdom’ status. (It is important to note that the expression ‘hermit kingdom’ dates to ...7 hours ago
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- Meet the prehistoric eagle that ruled Australian forests 25 million years agoSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Trevor H. Worthy, Associate Professor, Vertebrate Palaeontology Group, Flinders University Jacob Blokland/Flinders University, Author provided The parched deserts of the South Australian outback were once a rainforest filled with a rich variety of birds and animals. Now, thanks to a ...8 hours ago
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- Emotional vaccine: 3 ways we can move from ‘languishing’ to ‘flourishing’ in these testing t...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dougal Sutherland, Clinical Psychologist, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Shutterstock/Maksim Shmeljov If you’re feeling uninspired, stagnant and joyless, you’re not alone. A sense of languishing is one of the dominant emotions of 2021 as we navigate life ...8 hours ago
- Celebrating K’gari: why the renaming of Fraser Island is about so much more than a nameSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rose Barrowcliffe, Doctoral Candidate, University of the Sunshine Coast On the 19th of September, Butchulla dancers and community representatives came together at Kingfisher Bay Resort to celebrate the renaming of Fraser Island to the K’gari (Fraser Island) World Heritage Area. The ...8 hours ago
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- Free speech doesn’t mean you can say whatever you want, wherever. Here’s how to explain this to ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Luke Zaphir, Researcher for the University of Queensland Critical Thinking Project, The University of Queensland Melbourne has seen days of anti-lockdown and anti-vaccination protests with hundreds of arrests made. Many protesters hold right-wing and extremist views. Police say people have been ...8 hours ago
- Your household power bills could be 15% cheaper, if Australia’s energy regulator was doing its jobSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bruce Mountain, Director, Victoria Energy Policy Centre, Victoria University Joe Castro/AAP If you’re like most Australians, the single biggest chunk of your energy bill — about 40% — goes to a network services company, which owns and operates the transmission ...8 hours ago
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- Grant Robertson answers questions over government's Covid-19 self-isolation trialDeputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson answers questions about privacy issues during monitoring of those involved in a self-isolation trial. ...8 hours ago
- ACC cover for 'dangerous tasks' – and childbirth is one
Those doing working in dangerous environments will welcome a change shifting the onus of proof to ACC, but some industries may be more tentative. Claiming ACC will become easier for employees injured by a work-related process, disease or infection. The law changes, which will be introduced to Parliament later this year, reverse a 2010 ...8 hours ago - 'Asset grab' – entrenched local opposition to Three Waters planMayors around the country are lining up for a fight as the controversial Three Waters reforms approach another deadline. ...9 hours ago
- Live updates, September 28: Childbirth injuries to be covered by ACC Welcome to The Spinoff’s live updates for September 28, by Stewart Sowman-Lund. Send me thoughts and feelings to stewart@thespinoff.co.nz. Help us keep you informed on Covid-19 – click here to learn how you can join The Spinoff Members.8.00am: Childbirth injuries to be covered by ACC The accident compensation scheme will soon cover injuries ...9 hours ago
- Self-isolation trial to start next monthUp to 150 business people will try home isolation after an overseas trip, as government looks at ways to reopen, Justin Giovannetti writes in The Bulletin.A first step to reopening the country’s border. A self-isolation pilot, allowing 150 travellers to leave the country on a short business trip and return with ...10 hours ago
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Modern men wimps.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/2965078/Modern-men-called-wimps
Intelligence is far more important than physical ability.
ACC – Loss of income if accident happens while committing a crime.
1. If your injuries are as a result of a motor accident in which you are found guilty of breaking the speed limit… will you be affected?
2. How many fellons would be gainfully employed before they committed their crimes – one assumes they have never been eligible for compensation? Must be a fantastic saving to ACC there.
I think the proposal only cuts in if you’re sentenced to two years or more in prison.
It’s probably one of the less worrying of the cuts – certainly far less worrying than the cuts to seekly compensation for seasonal and casual employees and the vocational independence changes that will see highly qualified people booted off weekly compensation if they are found to be able to do some low paid job.
Sue Bradford referred yesterday to an aircraft engineer who had his weekly compensation stopped because he was found to be able to work as a carpark attendant, and a merchant seaman who had his stopped because he was found to be able to work as a meter reader.
That sort of stuff used to happen – and will happen again, thanks to Nick Smith So much for ACC being about providing “fair compensation for loss from injury”.
How about 2 years jail or $2000 dollar fine, get those white criminals too.
Is subversifpoet going to have to re-write Johnnie’s Boys in a less gender-specific fashion to include Melissa Lee?
This one had me chuckling the other day.
TheStreet.com reports:
Seems there is more than one Melissa Lee into fast money.
our one has never been known to be moderate though.
what about her yelling out ‘idiot’ in parlaiment on tuesday? what an embarrassment.
Another John Key lie spotted by Russell Brown on Radio Wammo – 9:00 minutes in.
Blip: Does Mr Key’s comment qualify as misleading the House?
Dunno. Bloody well should. The last time the Goober misled the House he said that his cycle track had undergone “rigourous costings” when, in fact, nothing of the sort occurred. In that case, Lockwood said the statement did not mislead the House.
Shippers say $1.5b subsidises trucks
Original PDF report here
A study commissioned by the New Zealand Transport Agency on freight transport in New Zealand, including an analysis of the prospects for coastal shipping.
OOB: The ACC Minister is at pains to show that the users should pay the cost of their higher risk. For example motorcyclists. Should trucks reduce the billions that they cost us by paying for the true cost of road usage? $1.5bn could reduce ACC costs.
Yet Joyce says
“It’s just not correct to say there’s any form of subsidy.”
in one breathe, and
“I don’t think there’s any future for the country by widening subsidies to different modes.”
in another. Sounds like he doesn’t know what he is talking about – I’m pretty sure he is wrong, and there is a subsidy for trucks. The cost they pay is less than their share of the total cost and the difference is picked up by the taxpayer, which seems like a subsidy to me.
Not that I am against subsidies, I just want to see that they are applied as fairly as possible across the various transport modes.
It frustrates me that the subsidy is in addition to the subsidies that the transport industry will get under the ETS, which again favours trucks.
Of course the pre-election donation from the Road Transport Forum has had no effect on Mr Joyce’s opinions.
The rise in ACC levies for motorcyclist seemed to have been justified on pretty weak grounds to me. Sure, the costs of motorcycle accident injuries is higher than for car accidents, because cars provide much more protection to their occupants.
But I would be interested in some data on the causes on motorcycle accidents. The proportion of costs created when a car or truck driver is at fault and caused the accidents should be assigned to cars and trucks. Only single vehicle accidents involving motorcycles and the proportion of accidents caused by motorcyclist error should be included in motorcycle ACC levies.
This morning on radio the figure of 30% motorcycle accidents caused by car error.
Was there any information on whether the costs had been assigned between car drivers and motorcyclists, depending on who was at fault? Or were the costs all lumped on to motorcyclists?
I will be happy with a “do your own research” reply.
Armchair:I believe the figure came from a motorcyclist on the end of Morning Report (i think?) and he said that 30% of bike accidents were car error but the figure was listed as bike accident with no weght given to the cars. All lumped together. Sorry that I can’t be more specific. Old age you see.
Granny has something up now.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10603342
Sounds like ACC haven’t thought this through properly, and that like Mr Joyce on RUCs, Mr Judge doesn’t understand what constitutes a subsidy either.
Came across this in the granny herald today:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10603270
Sounds as though Rodney Hide will be on his way to ballsing up a useful jobs initiative if he gets half a chance….
And in other news, the Nats have decided to hear all oral submissions on the ETS revisions today, less than 48 hours after submissions closed. They will be hearing only 27 submissions in 4.5 hours, which tells you everything you need to know about National’s “fuck you” attitude to democracy.
Jeebus.
WTF is Lockwood Smith doing stripping supplementary questions from parties during question time?
Because he can. Trevor must really annoy him.
I was listening rather than watching and my guess is that Lockwood made a slightly impetuous decision and his voice subsequently reflected some regret. (I can’t get it out my memory the image of Lockwood as quizmaster on TV all those years ago when he held the CONTROL and always seemed smug when he knew the answers and they did not. 🙂 )
I was listening too, the internet is too slow here for live streaming video but audio is mostly okay.
No doubt both sides were pushing the boundaries today, and I’m happy for some form of sanction to be taken against misbehaving members, but removing supplementary questions doesn’t seem like a good thing. Wasn’t there a “freedom of speech” issue just yesterday?